Device



E. H. BERRY.

LOOSE LEAF FILING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED um. 28. 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- INVENTOH Patented Jan. 17,1922.

,; 'iii'i?ff UNITED STATES EDGAR H. BERRY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

LOOSE-LEAF-FILING DEVICE.

Patented Jan. 1'7, 1922.

Application filed January 28, 1916. Serial No. 74,854.

To all 107L077]. it may concern Be it known that I, EDGAR H. BERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Loose-Leaf-Filing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device which permits of inserting, removing, or rearranging individual leaves at pleasure.

One object of my invention is the provision of a structure which will facilitate the said insertion, removal, or rearrangement, without impairing the security with which the leaves are held against accidental dis placement. A further object is the provision of a structure which will obviate the necessity for providing the loose leaf with special binding features, such as perforations, notches, Or the like.

7 This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a face view of a single leafretaining pocket, shownin engagement with a pair of binding arches A.

Figure 2 is a cross section through a binder containing a plurality of leaf-retaining pockets and leaves. The direction in which this section is taken, corresponds with the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal. section through a single leaf-retaining pocket, on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and showing in addition, a plurality of loose leaves E.

Figure l is the face view of a blank of preferred form, from which one portion of the leaf-retaining pocket maybe constructed, as illustrated further in Figures 5 to 8.

Figure 5 is a cross section, on an enlarged scale, through a single pocket, illustrating in greater detail a preferred form of construction.

Figure 6 is a sec ion similar to Figure 5, but showing the pocket more widely extended.

Figure 7 is a longitudinalsection on the line 7-7 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several. views.

. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the leaves to be filed are represented by the dot-anddash lines E. As shown in Figure 2, they are engaged on two faces, and covered along one edge, by the members B, C, D, of leaf on the retaining pocket, which latter is provided with perforations P, adapted to engage a binding arch A, of known form. This arch engages that edge of the leaf which is opposite to the one above mentioned, the leaf thus being encircled by a structure comprising the arch A, back member B, flap C, and front member D.

For purposes of illustration, the arch A is shown as being adapted to open at the point r and is further shown as being carried by the frame a, which latter is hingedly connected at H to the cover boards F. Arches of this general construction are well known in the art.

Referring to Figures 1 and 3, the front member D of the leaf-retaining pocket is provided at either end with extensions D D, the portions D being folded over the upper and lower edges of the back member 13, and secured to the said member by gluing, or by ther suitable means.

The members B, D, and D thus form a continuous band, encircling the loose leaf adjacent to that edge which is engaged by the arch A.

I prefer to use a tough, flexible paper for the member D with its extensions D D, and to use a materially thicker and stiffer stock for the back member B. The latter thus imparts sufficient rigidity to the leaf retaining pocket to make it hold its shape, and the connecting member D. while serving to hold the loose leaf in position against longitudinal displacement, is still. flexible enough to allow for a considerable variation in the number of leaves inserted.

As shown in Figure 2. the front member D is provided with another extension D', which is folded over the inner edge of the back member l3, and is secured to the said member by gluing or by other suitable means. flexibility of the material employed for the members D and D', acts like a hinged joint, but for reasons hereinafter explained, this connection is not made with any excess fullness corresponding to the portion D of Figure 3.

The perforations P which receive the arch A, are located in spaced relation to the hinged joint formed by the folding over of the extension D", and the arch A, engagin an edge of the loose leaf, prevents the said loose leaf from passing into the acute angle of the hinge-joint this constrnctiQlb ill;

This com'iection. because of the,

front member D may rise and fall to accommodate a considerable variation in the number of leaves inserted, while 'the arch A serves as a fixed abutment for aligning the edges of the said leaves.

The operation of inserting a leaf is as follows F-The flap member C is raised as indicated by ootand-dash lines in Figure '2. One edge of the lea'l is insert-ed beneath the trout member D as far as the arch A will permit while at the same time the long1tudinal position of the leaf is fixed within the limits imposed by the upper and lower members D. The flap C is then returned to the position Sl'iOWR' in solid lines in Figure 2, and while the flap remains in this position the loose leat cannot leave the pocket, nor can it be materially displaced therein, because of the above described structure which encircles it in two directions.

An index letter, or similar designation, may be entered upon the outer portion of the flap C, as illustrated at C, to indicate the contents of the pocket.

To facilitate the bending back and forth of the flap C it-may be slightly creased at 7, Figure 2.

In order that the leaves and pockets may 'lie fiat and smooth. it is desirable that the combined thickness of the members D and D should be approximately equal to the thickness 01' the flap C, and it is further desirable that there be no other overlapping of the material. of which the pocket is constructed, as such overlapping would cause an excess thickness at certain points.

lVhile such an excess in a single pocket would cause no trouble, yet the cumulative effect when a plurality of pockets is employed, would become noticeable and annoying.

The conditions necessary for smoothly lying pockets and leaves are clearly shown in Figure 2. For purposes of illustration, this figure shows a filler G, which may be secured to the cover of the hinder, the thickness of this lillerbeing equal to the thickness of themember D. This filler permits the first pocket to lie substantially parallel to the cover. and the succeeding pockets lie similai'ily parallel, because of the already ineutioued equality between the thickness of the lap C, and the combined thickness of the nnunbers D and D. Iii-actual practice the filler G may be omitted it desired, as it is only a single thickness, and can have no cumulative effect.

I find that the best results are obtained by making the front member I) as still as is consistent with a reasonable economy in the space occupied by the pocket. At the same time, for reasons already explained, the bands D and the hinge-joint formed by the folding over of the flap D should be as flexible as possible, the combined thickness of D and D should be approximately equal to the thickness of the flap C, and all oyerlapping which would cause an excess thlckness at points where it would interfere wlth the smoothness of the inserted leaves should be avoided.

To meet these several requirements I prefer to employ the construction illustrated in Figures l to 8. V

For the front member D, with its several integral extensions, I employ a tough flexible material about one-third as thick as the material employed for the flap C, and I first cut out a blank of the general form shown in Figure 4t. 7 v p This blank has a projecting lip d which I told back along the line J, under the portion Z, thus giving (as shown inFigures 5 and 6) a double thickness (Z, d, and a smooth folded edge J to the front member D.

The blank is creased along the lines j, j, to permit the member D to open with a bellows effect as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the lip d extending as far as the last crease j in order that the member D may also present a smooth folded edge, and a double thickness of material adjacent to the said edge.

The member D (Figure 4) continues as an extension beyond D, but only as a single thickness, as is clearly shown in Figures 7 and 8.

As already stated, the material used for the blank has about one-third the thickness of the material used for the flap C. Hence the three plies d, (Z, and D have about the same thickness in the aggregate as the said flap C, thus ensuring smooth lying pockets and leaves as already explained.

The blank has a second projecting lip d D, creased along the lines J and J, the latter forming the apex of a hinged connection to the back member 13 when the member 33 is glued or attached byother suitable means to the portion 13 of the back member B, Figures 5 and 6.

It will be noted from Figures 5 and 6 that this construction gives a uniform thickness of pocket forming material at all points exerior to the arch A, excepting through the narrow gap between the edge J, and the adjacent edge of flap C. This narrow gap, however, is readily bridged by any superposed pocket, and because of the otherwise uniform thickness of pocket forming material, any desired number of pockets may be smoothly superimposed, one upon the other.

I claim;

1. Ina loose leaf filing pocket, a back member with a flap at its outer edge, a front member hingedly connected to the inner-edge of the back member, bands extending from the front member to the back member, and

band-extensions adapted to engage the back member.

2. In a loose leaf filing pocket, a back member with a flap at its outer edge, a front member hingedly connected to the inner edge of the back member, bands extending from the front member to the back member, bandextensions adapted to engage the back memher, and aligning perforations in the front and back members.

3. In a loose leaf filing pocket, a back member with a flap at its outer edge, a front member hingedly connected to the inner edge of the back member, bands extending from the front member to the back member, and bandextensions adapted to engage the back member, the front member presenting a double thickness of material with a folded edge, and the band-extensions presenting a single thickness of material.

4. In a loose leaf filing pocket, a back member with a flap at its outer edge, a front member hingedly connected to the inner edge of the back member, aligning perforations in the front and back members, bands extending from the front member to the back member, and band-extensions adapted to engage the back member, the front member presenting a double thickness of material with a folded edge, and the band-extensions presenting a single thickness of material.

5. In a loose leaf filing pocket, a back member with a flap at its outer edge, a front member hingedly connected to the inner edge of the back member, and a band connecting the front and back members, one edge of the band being flush with the edge of the front member, and the other edge of the band being in spaced relation with the hinged connection between the front and back members.

6. In a loose leaf filing pocket, a back member with a flap at its outer edge, a front member hingedly connected to the inner edge of the back member, and a band connecting the front and back members, one edge of the band being flush with the edge of the front member, the other edge of the band being in spaced relation with the hinged connection between the front and back members, and there being aligned perforations in the front and back members, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. A loose leaf filing pocket comprising a back member with flaps at its inner and outer edges, and bands connecting the upper and lower edges of the inner flap with the back member, the position of the bands being such that there is a gap between the edge of the band and the hinge of the flap.

8. A loose leaf filing pocket comprising a back member with flaps at its inner and outer edges, bands connecting the upper and lower edges of the inner flap with the back memher, and aligning perforations in the back member and in the inner flap, the position of the bands being such that there is a gap between the edge of the band and the hinge of the flap.

9. A two-piece, loose leaf filing pocket, one piece comprising a back member with a flap, and the other piece comprising a front memher, a flap adapted to engage the back member, bands adapted to extend from the front member to the back member, and band-ex; tensions adapted to engage the back member.

10. A two-piece, loose leaf filing pocket, one piece comprising a back member with a flap, and the other piece comprising a front member presenting a double thickness of material with a folded edge, a flap adapted to engage the back member, bands adapted to extend from the front member to the back member, and band-extensions presenting a single thickness of material adapted to engage the back member.

11. A two-piece loose leaf filing pocket, one piece forming a back member, and the other piece comprising a front member, a flap adapted to engage the back member, bands adapted to extend from the front member to the back member, and band-extensions adapted to engage the back member.

12. A two-piece loose leaf filing pocket, one piece forming a back member, and the other piececomprising a front member presenting a double thickness of material with. a folded edge, a flap adapted to engage the back member, and band-extensions adapted to engage the back member.

1.3. A two-piece loose leaf filing pocket, one piece forming a back member, and the other piece comprising a front member presenting a double thickness of material with a folded edge, a flap adapted to engage the back member, and band-extensions adapted to engage the back member, the band-extensions presenting a single thickness of mate rial.

14.. A two-piece loose leaf filing pocket, one piece forming a back member, and the other piece comprising a front member pre senting double thickness of material with a folded ege, a lap adapted to engage the back n'ienlber, and banrlcxtensions adapted to engage the bark member, the [lap and the band-extensions each nesenting a single thickness of material.

EDGAR II. BERRY.

W itnesses CHAS. 1T1. PAnKEs, DOROTHY M. 01:011. 

